1983 Lancia LC2 Coupe

For the 1983 season, Lancia returned with the LC-2, following a promising 1982 season with the LC-1 Group 6 prototype. The 1982 season had been a learning year for Lancia, and for the following year, Lancia and racing team manager Cesare Fiorio designed and entered basically an entirely new car. Power was from a Ferrari-developed engine that had twin KKK turbochargers and produced approximately 850 horsepower. The LC2 had an aerodynamic, closed coupe bodywork that complied with Group C regulations. The V-8 engine became the center of the chassis and was rigidly affixed as an integral part of the chassis structure. Cooling the powerplant was a front-mounted radiator and twin intercoolers, with power being sent to the rear wheels via a Hewland five-speed manual transaxle.

The chassis was developed by Dallara Automobili, working with car construction company Abarth, and overseen by Cesare Fiorio. Dallara fabricated the aluminum tub chassis and Kevlar bodywork. The LC-2 bodywork featured a large front opening and a very large rear wing and underbody 'ground effects.'

The LC-2 enjoyed some promising racing moments, though it would never receive the development needed to compete in endurance events against the legendary Porsche 956s.

This car is Chassis number 002. It was constructed in 1983 and raced as the Lancia/Martini works car from 1983 to 1986. There were only five examples built during that period, with chassis number 002 competing in more races than any of the other cars.

In 1983, this car raced in nine world-championship events beginning with the 1,000km of Monza driven by Riccardo Patrese and Michele Alboreto to a 9th place finish. Next, the car competed at Silverstone, Nürburgring, and Le Mans, always qualifying in the top ten but unable to finish. At Brands Hatch, the car qualified 5th and finished 4th. The next race was at Imola, where it was piloted by Teo Fabi and Hans Heyer to its first win for the Lancia/Martini works team. It would finish in second place at both Mugello and Kyalami, as well as a 7th place at Spa.

In 1984, its first race was at Monza, where it was driven by Patrese and Bob Wollek. It qualified 4th and set the fastest lap of the race. Sadly, mechanical difficulties sidelined the car once again. It finished 12th overall at the 1,000km Nurburgring and qualified on pole at the 24 Hours of LeMans. It set the fastest lap of the race and finished 8th overall behind several Porsche 956s.

The following year, it qualified 3rd at LeMans and would lead the race for more than half the distance. It would finish in 6th place. During the race, the car recorded speeds of 246 mph on the Mulsanne Straight, giving credence to the claim that the LC2 was one of the fastest endurance racing cars ever produced.

The final outing for this car was at SPA, where it qualified on pole and finished in 4th.

The current owner acquired the car from Lancia-Fiat Auto S.p.A. in 1988. Since that time, it has undergone a meticulous ground-up restoration. Total restoration costs exceeded $350,000, a sum that included 4,000 man-hours of labor, a variety of components, and various subcontract work.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. The car was estimated to sell for $1,000,000 - $1,400,000. The car would leave the auction unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010